Newcomers prop up Cowboys' short-handed defense

By Tom Orsborn

Updated 9:31 pm, Friday, December 21, 2012

One of the most intriguing aspects of the Dallas Cowboys' improbable late-season surge is that it's been done with a defense that coordinator Rob Ryan has seemingly held together with spare parts and chewing gum.

Two others have also been shelved: nose tackle Jay Ratliff, who had sports hernia surgery last week, and backup nose tackle Josh Brent, who is on the reserved/non-football injury list after being charged with intoxication manslaughter in the drunk-driving death of teammate Jerry Brown.

Despite all the strange faces, Dallas (8-6) has won three in a row and five of its past six to join the New York Giants and Washington in a three-way tie for first in the NFC East.

"We have overcome a lot," Ryan said Friday. "We are playing better (defensively). We are not playing great, but we don't think it's going to look great all the time right now. We are just trying to play a good, sound game."

"Our defensive staff has done an outstanding job, finding the right pieces and putting them in the right place while having to stop some of these offenses we have played," Garrett said.

In last week's 27-24 overtime win over Pittsburgh, Dallas also played without corner Morris Claiborne (concussion). But vet Mike Jenkins started in his place, and Moore did a solid job in nickel situations.

Several other newcomers also contributed, including Schaefering and Coe. Despite joining the team just last week, each logged 10 snaps.

Romo was amazed that one day after the Cowboys signed Moore off New England's practice squad, the former SMU player saw action against Philadelphia on Dec. 2.

"I saw No. 30 the night before at our hotel," Romo said. "I'm like, 'Hey, it's nice to have you on our team. Where you from? What do you do?' Are you dressing tomorrow?'

"He just showed up at the team meeting the night before and the next day he's out there. I was like, this is interesting."

Backups have also stepped up. For instance, linebackers Alex Albright and Dan Connor answered the call Sunday after another newcomer, Ernie Sims, suffered a concussion.

Bottom line: It's one for all and all for one these days for the mishmash that is the defense.

"This is the closest team I've been on in any year I've been here, and I've been here eight years," linebacker DeMarcus Ware told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "It's really not about the name on the back of the jersey.

"It's about how all 11 guys get together, play together with that passion and intensity, and do the right things.

"That's what we've been doing, and this December, it's a whole different team."